In An Abbey Garden

Hart's tongue, rusty-back, maidenhair,

Fern folk swaying in the summer air;

Streamflow, riverrun, weirwater fall

Rushings and ripplings by the mossgrown wall.

Blackbird, songthrush, in noonday sun,

Pipings and warblings, notes as one;

Glottal-stop, cadence-flow, sweet birdtalk,

Sacramental hymn of the leafroofed walk.

By Michael Hensey